Yogi Adityanath (File photo)
NEW DELHI: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday compared a shooter arrested in connection with the firing at actor Disha Patani’s Bareilly house to “Maareech”, a demon from Ramayan. Speaking at a function in Lok Bhawan, Adityanath said, “A criminal involved in crimes against women came from outside the state. He possibly entered like Maareech, but when the UP police’s bullet hit him, he admitted he entered wrongly and said he would never show such audacity again.” The CM added that this approach should be applied to every criminal who threatens women’s safety. Police said one of the five shooters involved in the Bareilly incident, Ramanivas, was arrested along with his associate Anil after an encounter on Friday.A video circulating on social media shows him lying on the ground with folded hands, saying, “Baba ke Uttar Pradesh mein kabhi nahi aayenge sir” (I will never come to Baba’s Uttar Pradesh again). He appeared to be referring to Adityanath.Senior superintendent of police Anurag Arya said Ramanivas sustained a bullet injury in his leg during the encounter. Police recovered a 32-bore pistol, four live cartridges, and four spent shells from the accused. During questioning, Ramanivas confessed to his role in the firing, police said.On 12 September, two men on a motorcycle reportedly fired nine shots at the Patani family’s house in the Civil Lines area in Bareilly. Disha’s father Jagdish Patani, his wife Padma, and their children Khushboo and Suryansh were at home. Disha Patani was not present at the time.
